Sitting in this seat, Bai Nanxing felt as though he were sitting on pins and needles. It was as if the chair wasn’t a chair at all, but a scorching hot griddle; his backside simply couldn’t stay still.
He wanted to leave this suffocating space and go outside to catch his breath. If he stayed any longer, he felt he would be stifled to death, if not by the stuffy air, then by the oppressive atmosphere.
Perhaps noticing that his complexion was becoming increasingly pale, Mo Yichen stood up and took the initiative to walk over. His tone was exceptionally gentle. “Are you feeling unwell?”
Bai Nanxing did feel dizzy. He had been brought here just after his fever had broken and had walked a long way; it would be a problem if his complexion weren’t poor. He looked up at Mo Yichen, finding even the act of speaking exhausting. “A little.”
Mo Yichen extended his hand toward him. “I’ll take you out for some fresh air.”
There weren’t many people in the main living room, but they were all prominent figures. Their topics of discussion were focused—either on business or power. As the heir to the Mo family, Mo Yichen was naturally a focal point of attention. This single gesture instantly drew everyone’s gaze toward them.
Bai Yi was no exception.
But this was not the kind of attention Bai Nanxing wanted. The gazes were filled with loathing and disdain, as if he were a traitor caught selling family secrets, now standing trial before them all.
This made Bai Nanxing feel even more humiliated.
He wished Mo Yichen would withdraw his hand and ignore his condition, allowing him to sit quietly as an insignificant, peripheral figure.
However, Mo Yichen had no intention of pulling back. Instead, he asked again, “The living room is a bit stuffy. I’ll take you out for some air; you’ll feel better.”
The Mo family mansion was ventilated on all sides with excellent lighting; how could the living room possibly be stuffy?
However, the atmosphere had been set. If Bai Nanxing didn’t respond, he would appear ungrateful.
He could only slowly place his hand into Mo Yichen’s palm and stand up. “Thank you.”
Bai Nanxing didn’t know how others felt seeing this scene, but he knew Bai Ruoning was likely on the verge of losing it.
He had assumed that as an illegitimate son with a shameful status, Bai Nanxing wouldn’t be welcomed by the Mo family even with a business marriage. To his surprise, the Mo family hadn’t made things difficult for him, and Mo Yichen was being so kind to him in front of everyone.
If he were Bai Ruoning, he would be going crazy too.
But Bai Ruoning’s madness wouldn’t be out of envy or jealousy; more likely, he simply couldn’t stand seeing Bai Nanxing doing well.
“Eldest Young Master, you can actually… let go of me now.”
Once they were out of the main living room, Bai Nanxing felt there was no need to continue the act and hoped Mo Yichen would release him.
But the man seemed to have grown fond of the charade. Turning a deaf ear to his words, he kept holding his hand until they reached the back garden before letting go.
“The air here is good, and no one will come to disturb us. it’s very suitable for relaxing and getting some air.”
Mo Yichen gently brushed the stray hairs from Bai Nanxing’s forehead and said tenderly, “I noticed your face didn’t look right at first glance. I thought it was motion sickness. I’m sorry, that was my oversight.”
Unaccustomed to being treated this way, Bai Nanxing instinctively stepped back to create distance. Fearing Mo Yichen might be angry, he kept his head down and repeatedly apologized.
Mo Yichen wasn’t angry. He simply smiled, lowered his hand, and began talking to Bai Nanxing of his own accord.
“Do you know who Father built this garden for?”
His expression was mournful as he asked. Bai Nanxing wasn’t sure if it was genuine or an act; if it was an act, then every member of the Mo family shouldn’t be a business tycoon, but a Best Actor in the entertainment industry.
“Was it not for the Madam?” Bai Nanxing followed his lead.
Mo Yichen gave a bitter smile. “If it were built for Mother, then I and Qingqing should be the only young master and lady of this house.”
Confused, Bai Nanxing asked, “Why do you say that, Eldest Young Master? Isn’t… isn’t the Madam the mother of all of you?”
But Mo Leyang clearly wasn’t.
Mo Leyang was of mixed race; it was obvious at a glance that one of his parents was not of Eastern descent.
If the five siblings didn’t share the same mother, it wouldn’t be strange for the eldest son’s biological mother to be the mistress of the Mo household. What was strange was that in between, there was a second young lady, Mo Leyang, and a fourth young master—all legitimate children of the Mo family, not illegitimate. It was quite perplexing.
Sensing Bai Nanxing’s thoughts, Mo Yichen explained, “Qingqing and I share the same mother. The others do not.”
Bai Nanxing was somewhat shocked.
Before he could speak, Mo Yichen continued, “You must be wondering why it’s like this. But you might be mistaken about one thing: Father did not cheat.”
This was quite unexpected for Bai Nanxing. “Then why…?”
“Father and Mother’s marriage was also a business alliance. Because of disagreements at work, they had a peaceful divorce. Later, he married a foreign woman—the biological mother of Mo Leyang and his sister.”
So that nasty man had a sister too.
Bai Nanxing’s teeth itched at the thought. He asked, “Then the Fourth Young Master is…?”
Mo Yichen didn’t answer that question, but continued from where he left off. “Later, that woman had an accident. Father found out it was the work of an enemy. Because of that, he always felt he owed Lao San (the third child), and even granted his every whim. As for Lao Si (the fourth), that was an accident; it’s fine not to mention it. Father never intended to remarry Mother, but the Mo family couldn’t go a day without a mistress. He didn’t trust other women, so he could only remarry Mother. Qingqing came after that.”
Bai Nanxing didn’t have much interest in these matters. Rich families always had the same old drama; you could guess the outcome with your eyes closed. He was more curious about what Mo Yichen had mentioned earlier—if the garden wasn’t built for the mistress of the Mo family, then who was it for?
To be remembered by a man for a lifetime, it must have been someone special.
This reminded Bai Nanxing of the painting of the woman he had seen in Mo Yuncheng’s study.
The entire study was filled with books and the “four treasures of the study,” yet that single painting hung there, looking remarkably out of place.
Before Bai Nanxing could ask, Mo Yichen spoke up. “This garden was built by Father for a woman who does not belong to the Mo family. That woman was Father’s first love. She was very beautiful. Father once wanted to marry her, but the family elders wouldn’t allow it. Under pressure, Father broke off contact with her and reluctantly married my mother.”
So that was it.
Bai Nanxing understood completely.
The way Mo Yuncheng looked at him wasn’t because of affection, but because his face looked like the woman he loved.
No wonder he had felt the woman’s face in the painting was strangely familiar at first sight.
“Then, Eldest Young Master… do you feel very sad?”
Having one’s own biological father not love them—wasn’t that just like how Bai Yi treated him?
No, it was still different.
Even if Mo Yuncheng didn’t love his eldest son due to the business marriage, he still chose to place Mo Yichen in the position of the future heir of the Mo family, allowing him to live openly in the light.
He didn’t have to live according to others’ whims, nor did he have to endure gossip and insults. He didn’t have to be like a street rat that everyone shouted at. He could enjoy the best life; with just a bit of acting spoiled with Mo Yuncheng, he could own one expensive villa after another and have endless pocket money.
Unlike himself, who could be starved to death at any moment for being disobedient.
They were not the same.
Mo Yichen said, “I feel sad, but I’ve gotten used to it.”
Bai Nanxing didn’t know how to respond to that, so he chose to remain silent.
Seeing his silence, Mo Yichen turned and smiled. “Is this fact hard to accept?”
Bai Nanxing didn’t say yes or no. In this situation, no matter how he answered, it wouldn’t be a wise choice.
To say Mo Yichen was pitiable felt entirely unnecessary to Bai Nanxing. Though he lacked paternal love, he was materially wealthy, which was already far better than most people.
Therefore, the best answer was silence.
Mo Yichen didn’t seem to mind his reaction. Since Bai Nanxing had just arrived at the Mo family, it was reasonable that he didn’t know many things; Mo Yichen wouldn’t force it.
Bai Nanxing thought it was over and breathed a sigh of relief.
But in the next second, he suddenly heard Mo Yichen ask, “Nanxing, what do you think of Lao San?”
Bai Nanxing’s heart leaped into his throat. He didn’t understand why Mo Yichen was asking this. Was it because he knew what Mo Leyang had done to him at school?
If he really knew, would he think he and Mo Leyang were already involved?!
Bai Nanxing didn’t know whether to answer or not. If he said he had only met Mo Leyang today, and Mo Yichen knew about the events at school, his lie would be exposed immediately, and Mo Yichen might become enraged. But if he said he had only met Mo Leyang a few times at school and wasn’t close, that was still a lie.
No matter how he answered, Mo Yichen would become suspicious of him.
“Are you afraid of me?” Mo Yichen took a step forward and gently brushed his hair.
Bai Nanxing habitually stepped back. Seeing the displeasure on Mo Yichen’s face, he quickly explained, “No, it’s not like that!”
Mo Yichen smiled and didn’t move further forward. “I see that they all like me very much and thought you would too. Am I that scary?”
Bai Nanxing instantly understood the meaning behind those words. Mo Yichen was very dissatisfied with his act of backing away.
“I-I’m sorry, I’m not used to being like this with people. I’m sorry!”
He was like a deer caught in danger—panicked and helpless, looking very pitiable.
Mo Yichen said nothing but beckoned to Bai Nanxing. “Come here.”
Bai Nanxing didn’t want to go over, but if he refused Mo Yichen again, his future days with the Mo family would be very difficult. He could only obediently go over.
Mo Yichen was satisfied. He lightly traced his fingertip across Bai Nanxing’s cheek, then leaned in and whispered in his ear, “Good. This is the right way. I didn’t like you the way you were just now.”